The Sapporo Snow Festival is held annually in February. It’s one of the largest winter event in Japan. This year is the 59th Festival of the International Snow Sculpture Contest at Odori Park site since 1974. Over 14 teams from various regions of the world participated this year. The 2008 festival is now closed, it was held on February 5 to 11. Every year about two million people come to Sapporo to see hundreds of beautiful snow and ice statues being displayed around the Odori Park, which is the grounds at Satoland and the main street in Susukino.

“The Snow Festival began in 1950, when six local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955, the Japan Self-Defense Forces from the nearby Makomanai base joined in and built the first massive snow sculptures, for which the Snow Festival has now become famous. Several snow festivals existed in Sapporo prior to the Sapporo Snow Festival, however, all of these were suspended during World War II.^“

I think this is one of the place I wish to be in February! They know what to do with all the snow they received. My car is still stuck in the tall snow again. I think I’m gonna start making lots of little snowman around my car. :twisted:

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